woodland wildflower
Heart-leaf golden Alexanders
Zizia aptera
Also known as Heart-leaved Meadow Parsnip, Heartleaf Meadow Parsnip, Meadow Parsnip, Heartleaf Alexanders, Meadow Zizia, Zizia
Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
New York to Ohio, Wisconsin, Manitoba and eastern British Columbia, south to Georgia, Arkansas, northeastern Nevada and northwestern Oregon
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 2–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–Jul Flowering time
- Height up to 3 ft to 0.9 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for sun through shade and evenly moist soil. Its yellow flowers peak in June. At up to 3 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 2–9.
Growing conditions
Hardiness zones
When it blooms
The Heart-leaf golden Alexanders's yellow flowers bloom April to July, peaking in June. This early-summer display draws bees and butterflies.
Heart-leaf golden Alexanders blooms yellowFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Allegheny Mining Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Hylaeus affinis, Cinquefoil Masked Bee +1 more
Nimble Ceratina - Butterflies Clouded Sulphur also Common Ringlet, Incisalia niphon
- Flower flies Thick-legged Hover Fly
- Also visited by
- Beetles: Spotted Pink Lady Beetle
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Black swallowtailcaterpillar host
- Clouded sulphurnectar
- Common ringletnectar
- Eastern pine elfinnectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (35): AL, AR, CO, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY. Canada (3): AB, MB, SK. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- New York to Ohio, Wisconsin, Manitoba and eastern British Columbia, south to Georgia, Arkansas, northeastern Nevada and northwestern OregonThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2–9 · Canadian 1–8The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, sandy or sandy-clay soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 3 ft (to 0.9 m)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~2 ft (0.6 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- RapidA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–JulWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- Schizocarp; ripens May–SepThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.